Apparatus for cleaning tank-waggons, tanks and other chambers



Jan. 24, 1961 F. GUIGUES ET AL .2,959,188

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TANK-WAGGONS, TANKS AND OTHER CHAMBERS Filed June 3, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M) v5() 70H5 c* 60/6055 ,L- Pfff/aon) Jan. 24, 1961 F. GUIGUES ETAL 2,969,188

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TANK-wAGGoNS, TANKS AND OTHER CHAMBERS Filed June s, 1957 Y 2 sheets-Sheet 2 Unite APPARATUS Fon CLEANING TANKwAGGoNs, TANKS AND ori-1ER CHAMBERS Frederic Guigues, Aix-en-Provence, and Martin Louis.

Bressillon, Marseilles, France, assignors to Societe Lamy. dEtudes et de Recherches Solerf Courbevoie (Seine), France, a French body corporate Filed June 3, 1957, Ser, No. 663,291 Claims priority, application FranceJuneS, 1956 4 Claims. (Cl. 2399-243) latter being directed more or less well on the various walls, or by rinsing which does not reach, all the walls. More eicient cleaning apparatus have been proposed, but these are complicated inlconstruction andare very expensive Ifherobject of the invention is to provide an apparatus for cleaning chambers, access to which is diicult or dangerous, and in particular tank-Waggons, which apparatus is of simple construction, operates f aultlessly and isfully effective. This apparatus comprises at least one sprinkler which is provided with nozzlespadapted to project jets of cleaning liquid and which is mounted on a rotor for rotation about an axis,`the rotor rotatingy about an axis other than that ofthe sprinkler and being adapted to' supply saidliquid to said nozzles.

According to aV further important and preferred feature, the rotor is itself driven by a sprinkler which isadapted vnot only to clean but also to act as driving means fixed to this rotor.

According to another feature andfor the purpose of obtaining substantially constant rotational speeds of each sprinkler for different hydraulic pressures, the inner distributing ports pertaining to this sprinkler andthe nozzles ofthe sprinkler are sovarranged as to give two different and opposite rotational torques, .the dilerence between these torques determining the rotational speed of the tates arent O Aconsidered sprinkler and ybeing substantially independenty ofthe pressure of the fluid.

vFurther featuresand advantages of the invention will rbe apparent fromthe ensuing description withreferenee to the accompanying drawings to whichv the invention is in no way limited. i i y In the drawings: Fig 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an apparatus embodying the invention; y

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along line 2 2 of Fig. l; i y i Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along line '3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig 4 is a sectional view taken nalong linel 4%4 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 5 shows the apparatus incorporated in` arcleaning liquid supply device, this apparatus being shown in three ysuccessive positions insidea tank-Waggon, the dimensions of the `apparatus being enlarged relative to those of the .Weeegn `In the embodiment shown Figs. 1 to 4,the apparatus n comprises a support consisting of thecombination of a 'tube 1 and a base 2 xedt-o the latter, fory example, by l screws 3 or a key.

Mounted-on the tube 1 isa rotorR comprising aftubu- `14b yare nozzles 15a and 15b.

rerice lar portion 4 whose axis coincides with the axis AA of the tube 1 and a plurality of tubulararrns 5 whose axes BB lie in radial planes which contain the axis AA and make therebetween equal angles, for example two diametrall-y opposed planes. The axis BB of each arm is concurrent with the axis AA and makes ltherewith an angle .it which is preferably less than The rotor R is mounted on the tube -1 and centered on the axis AA by means of two anti-friction bearings such as ball bearings 6 and 7,*the bearing 7 being held in position by a plug-8 screw-threadedly engaged on Aa screw-threaded portion 9 of the tubel.

The rotor R is drivenrin rotationy in the direction of arrow f1 (Fig. 2) by asprinklerrTl, the driving liquid forwhich is takeniromthe cleaning liquid. This driving sprinkler T1 also contributes to the cleaning ofithe'tank through its own nozzles.

The sprinkler T1 consists of -an `annular body '10 fixed on the tubular portion 4 of the rotor R by one or more screws 11 (Figs. 2 and 3)k each of whichextends through a clearance hole in the body 1-0 and is screwed into a tapped hole 12 formed in the portion 4. The body 10 thus rendered rigid with the rotor R comprisesa number of radially extending bosses 13,- for example yfour bosses, which are diametrally opposed in pai-rs. A number of these bosses are tapped at 14a along a diametral axis CC (Fig. 2) intersecting the axis AA, whereas at least one, and preferably two, of'these bosses are tapped at 14b in planes DD and IEE which are oif'set a kdistance erelative to the axis AA (Fig. 2).

' Screw-threadedly engaged inthe tapped holes L14a and Thus while the :jets issuing from the nozzles 15a result in reactions which ycancel one another in pairs of jets issuing from the theparts associated with the latter. The driving torqueis a function of, onthe one hand, the reaction of the jets issuing from the nozzles 15b and therefore. the pressure of the liquid issuing from the nozzles, and, on. the otherhand, the offset distance e between the axis AA and theaxes of the oblique nozzles.

vFor the purpose of supplying the drivingand cleaning liquid to the nozzles of the sprinkler T1 4there/are provided passageways and distributing recesses which are preferably so adapted as to create a resisting torque which also varies withfthe pressure of the liquid, wherebythe driving torque of the rotor, corresponding to the dilierence between the aforementioned driving torque and said resisting torque, is substantially independent of the liquid pressure.

The liquid, which is supplied to the `axial bore lr6-.of the support tube 1 inthe manner described hereinafter, -flows into the bore 17k of the tubular portion 4 by way of a series of ports 18 formed in the tube 1. These ports 18, instead of lying in radial planes containing the axis AA, are so arranged that they extend throughA the tubel in planes which areofiset relative to the axis AA and are substantially tangent to the bore 16.

Further, the bore 17 of the rotor R communicates with the .exterior of the portion 4 and with an annular recess 19 in the body 1 0 by Way of a seriesofeoblique ports V20 whose axes make an angle of about 90 with those oi the ports 18, the orientation being such that jets vof liquid which issue from the ports 18land strike the lateral V'faces of the ports 20 tendto rotate therotopV R in'the Yof the jets issuing from the oblique nozzles.15b,andto'a second torque which opposes the tirst torque and is due to the impact of the jets issuing from the ports 18 against the walls of the ports 20. By a suitable choice of the ports 18 and 20 and of the angle of the axes DD and EE of the nozzles 15b, it can be arranged that said rst torque is the greater of two torques so that the rotor rotates in the direction of arrow f1 (Fig. 2). Tests have demonstrated that if the axes DD and EE are inclined at relative to a radial plane containing the axis AA and perpendicular to line CC and the passageways and ports are arranged as shown in the drawings, the rotational speed of the rotor in the direction of arrow f1 is substantially constant when the liquid supply pressure is between 2 and 12 kg. per sq. cm. v

Mounted on each of the radial arms 5 of the rotor R is a sprinkler T2 which has solely a cleaning function.

The arrangement of the sprinkler T2 on the arms '5 is substantially identical to the arrangement of the driving sprinkler T1 on the portion 4 of the rotor. Each sprinkler T2 comprises (Figs. 1 and 4) an annular body 21 provided with bosses 22 which support nozzles, the nozzles 23a being radial whereas nozzles 23b are inclined relative to radial planes containing the axis BB so as to cause rotation of the sprinkler T2, for example in the direction of arrow f2 (Fig. 4).

The sprinkler T2 is held in position, for example by screws 24, on a ring 25 which is itself rotatably mounted on the arm 5 and performs for the sprinkler T2 the function of the portion '4 in the sprinkler Tl relative to the tube 1. The ring 25 is journalled on the arm 5 by means of two anti-friction bearings such as ball bearings 26 and 27 the assemblage being held in position on the arm 5 by a plug 28 screw-threadedly engaged at 29 in the end thereof.

In order to supply the liquid and to create a resisting torque which results in a substantially constant rotational speed of the sprinkler T2 for all pressures between, for example, 2 and l2 kg. per sq. cm., the arrangement of the liquid supply passageways and recesses is similar to that described in respect of the sprinkler T1.

The support tube 1 comprises a second set of ports 18a (Fig. l) which are similar to the ports 18. The tubular arm 5 is provided with ports 30 whose axes are substantially tangent to the bore 31 of the arm 5. These ports 30 extend through the wall of the arm 5 and communicate with an annular recess 32 in the ring 25 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the inclined ports 33 formed in this ring 25. These ports 33 communicate with an annular recess 34 in the ring 21 carrying the nozzles.

The apparatus is completed by a protecting cage which ensures that the sprinklers do not come into contact with the walls of the chamber to be cleaned. This cage comprises a plate 35 attached by a bolt 36 and a nut 37 to the plug 8. Mounted in the plate 35 at 38 and welded at 39 are rods 40 which are bent in such manner as to clear the sprinklers T1 and T2, the ends 41 of these rods being engaged in part-cylindrical concave lugs 42 rigid with the base 2. The rods are preferably welded at 43 to these lugs 42. The rods are interconnected, for example by an inner ring 44 and an outer ring 45 welded to these rods.

The apparatus operates in the following manner:

Water or other liquid under pressure is supplied to the bore 16 of the support tube 1 and this water flows through the ports 18 and 18a and thus reaches the nozzles of the sprinklers T1 and T2 by way of the passageways and recesses described hereinbefore. The sprinkler T1 drives the rotor R about the axis AA in the direction of arrow f1 so that the axes BB of the sprinklers T2 describe a cone about the axis AA and the plane in which the jets .issue from each sprinkler T2 revolves about the axis AA and thus sweeps through the whole of the space surrounding this axis AA, while the jets issuing from the driving 4 sprinkler T1 form a sheet of liquid which is substantially perpendicular to the axis AA.

Fig. 5 shows one way in which the apparatus of the invention can be used for cleaning a tank-waggon 46 provided with a manhole 47 and, for example, divided into three compartments 48, 49 and 50 by two partitions 51. Each of the compartments is cleaned in turn. For this purpose, the apparatus is placed in position I, II and III at the end, for example, of a bent pipe 52 iixed by means of a ange 53 to the base 2 of the apparatus. The pipe 52 is, for example, slidably mounted in a ball and socket joint 54, rotatably mounted in a support 55 which can be xed, for example by a bayonet coupling or other coupling means, to the upper flange of the manhole 47. A further pipe S6 is connected to the pipe 52.

By placing the apparatus successively in positions I, II and III, the pipe 52 assuming positions 52, 52a and 52b, the inside of the tank-waggon is very rapidly cleaned.

The cleaning liquid used may be of course any suitable liquid, such as water containing any suitable active agent or the liquid corresponding to that which will be stored in the tank-waggon or other container after cleaning, for example petrol or oil.

It will be observed that no sealing means are needed vin the apparatus, since liquid leakage constitutes no disadvantage.

The apparatus is particularly simple in construction and undergoes practically no wear owing to the mounting of the rotating parts on anti-friction bearings 6, 7, 26 and 27.

Although a specic embodiment of the invention has been described, many modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having now described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for cleaning tank wagons and the like which comprises a support, a rotor carried by said support and driven with a rotational movement about a rst axis, at least one freely rotatable sprinkler mounted on said rotor for rotation about a second axis diierent from said iirst axis, and a driving sprinkler iixed to said rotor for rotating said rotor on said support, each sprinkler being provided with nozzles adapted to project jets of cleaning liquid, said support and rotor being hollow and in communication with said nozzles to form conduits for distributing said liquid to said nozzles, said support and rotor and each sprinkler having in said conduits two conjugate series of liquid distributing ports, both of said series being concentrically disposed about the axis of rotation of the sprinkler, each port having an axis, the axis of each port of one of said series intersecting the axis of the corresponding port of the other of said series to provide a iirst torque acting on the sprinkler in one direction, and the axis of at least one of the nozzles of each sprinkler lying at least partly outside a radial plane containing the axis of the sprinkler, said nozzle axis extending away from said sprinkler axis in the direction of said iirst torque to produce a second torque having an opposite direction to that of said rst torque, the difference between said torques determining the rotational speed of said sprinkler and rendering it substantially independent of the pressure of said liquid.

2. A sprinkling apparatus comprising a mount, a sprinkler rotatably carried on said mount, a plurality of nozzles on said sprinkler for discharging liquid under pressure, conduit means in said mount and sprinkler for delivering liquid under pressure to said nozzles, said conduit means including a rst series of ports fixed with respect to said mount and a second series of ports fixed with respect to said sprinkler, both said series of ports being concentrically disposed about the axis of the sprinkler, said ports in said second series being positionable opposite said ports in said iirst series and having port axes which intersect the port axes of said iirst series such that liquid from said first series of ports strikes the walls dening said second series of ports' at an angle to pro duce a torque on said sprinkler tending to rotate it in one direction, one of said nozzles having an axis lying Y at least partly outside a plane through the axis of rotation of said sprinkler so as to produce a second torque on said sprinkler tending to rotate it in an opposite direction, said torques partially counteracting one another so that the speed of rotation of said sprinkler is independent of the pressure of said liquid.

3. A sprinkling apparatus as set out in claim 2 wherein said mount comprises a cylindrical conduit on which said sprinkler is journaled, said irst series of ports extending through Ithe walls of said conduit.

4. An apparatus as claimed in Vclaim 1, wherein said support comprises a irst liquid supply tube, said rotor comprises a second tube rotatably mounted on said tirst tube and at least one hollow arm, said driving sprinkler is xed on said second tube whereas said freely rotatable sprinkler is rotatably mounted on said hollow arm, and said conjugate liquid-distributing ports lare formed in said tubes and in said arm for the passage of said liquid from said irst tube to the nozzles of said sprinklers.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 457,099 Woolsey Aug. 4, 1891 `534,325 Fellows Feb. 19, 1895 2,074,052 George Mar. 16, 1937 2,766,065 Iayslen Oct. 9, 1956 2,773,721 Pedrick Dec. 1l, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 144,731 Germany Apr. 27, 1902 

